When does human life begin? Science is crystal clear: Human life begins at the moment of fertilization. For centuries, the development of human life within the womb was instinctively understood but ...

Preeclampsia can reduce blood flow to the fetus, restricting their food and oxygen supply. This, in turn, can affect development and may result in a low birth weight or preterm birth. In severe cases, ...

A new study shows oxygenation levels in the placenta, formed during the last three months of fetal development, are an important predictor of cortical growth (development of the outermost layer of the ...

A study led by Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, in collaboration with the University of East London UK, and Swansea University UK, is the first to show the effects of the drug ...

What you eat during pregnancy not only affects you but also your baby. Jessie explains how it can predispose the baby's brain to mental health issues in future.

Many in the medical community believe there’s clear evidence that a fetus – a developing baby in the womb – can’t feel physical pain until after the 24th week (6th month) of pregnancy. But other ...

New research in Sweden has produced a "blueprint" revealing how the human heart is built during prenatal development. It offers insights that could lead to improved prenatal care and new treatments ...

Many factors, including genetics, stress, and environmental exposure, can shape pregnancy and fetal development. Physicians who care for pregnant patients and their babies before and after birth work ...

In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers in the United States evaluated the effects of maternal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic-associated stress and fetal ...